Saurav Ghosal’s body and mind have been “running on fumes a little bit” since last year’s Asian Games.
This made Ghosal quit the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournaments and concentrate only on team events where he can play for the country.
However, representing India at the Los Angeles Games four years later — when squash will make its Olympics debut — is still on the mind of the country’s top squash player, who will be turning 38 this August.
“It (2028 Olympics)’s too far out to think of that now. But yeah, it does occupy a place in my mind.
“I’ll take it like one tournament in one year to see where the mind and body is and what level I can produce. If the level is there, then yes of course, it’s something I would attempt. But we would only know that with time,” Ghosal, who has 10 PSA and 13 national titles, told The Telegraph from his residence in Chennai on Tuesday.
The World Team Championships in Hong Kong from December 9-15 is likely to be the next tournament for Ghosal. He doesn’t want to tax himself much thinking about the 2026 Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games (CWG).
“I’m going to try and target the World Team Championships in Hong Kong this December. But I am going to take a final call on that in June,’ Ghosal stated.
“That’s the first one I’m looking at. As for my preparation, I have to pace things out and be in some sort of shape before I ramp it up ahead of the tournament... I have to start from ground zero though...
“As far as the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games are concerned, well,I first have to earn my place for them. They’re still two years away, so we don’t know. I’ll have to see how I can stay in shape and how well I can produce at the highest level without being in the PSA... I will definitely try to do the best I can,” Ghosal, who had won silver and bronze medals (in men’s singles squash) in the last Asian Games and the CWG, respectively, explained.
Going back to his decision of quitting PSA competitions, Ghosal did acknowledge it was tough for him to make his mind up on the matter. “Since the Asian Games last year, the body and mind has been running on fumes a little bit. So, I felt like I needed some time both mentally and physically to heal.
“And then with the PSA, it’s like week-in week-out kind of grind and travel. Playing for India or playing twice or thrice a year is easier in terms of workload. Considering I’m going to be 38 this August,
“I wanted to play for a few years longer, so this was the only way to do it: take some time away from the game and then hopefully, have the hunger and desire to come back.
“My body and mind will obviously go with it and I’ll give it a try,” Ghosal said.
“Yes, the decision was tough as I had done it (playing both PSA events and for India) for so long. One side of it is, you want to keep doing it because you love it so much. You are also scared to let go something that you’ve done for so long.
“So this constant interplay in the mind is difficult to deal with.
“Now, when anyone does anything for so long, letting go then is very difficult. So yes, it was tough and it is still tough.
“But you have to be a little bit smart and see what’s the best thinking in the long run and not just think of the immediate moment,” Ghosal, who may come to Calcutta at the end of this week, concluded.
